Jury Awards $1.25 Million in Infant's Misdiagnosis Death

DULUTH, Minn. – A jury awarded more than $1.25 million to a family whose 21-month-old son was misdiagnosed by a Hibbing doctor and died.

The St. Louis County jury deliberated about 3 1/2 hours Monday night to decide Dr. Kevin Krause was negligent in his treatment of Andrew Morrow, who died Jan. 31, 2008.

The Morrow family attorney Terry Wade said Andrew was misdiagnosed twice over four days. He was incorrectly diagnosed with influenza and later with gastroenteritis. The boy died of gangrenous appendicitis with a blood stream infection and shock. His appendix leaked bacteria into his abdomen.

Evidence presented at trial showed Krause had too many patients too close together and too little time.

Neither Krause, who works at the Mesaba Clinic, nor his attorney could be reached for comment Wednesday.